Surface-test indicator



Feb. 13, 1923. V

r T. E. GROVE.

SURF ACE TEST INDICATOR.

FILED MAR. 22, $920- State of Qhio,

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Application filed March 22, 1920.

To aZZ coho 1n it may COW/067%,.

Be it known that I, THoMAs E. Gnovn, a

citizenjot the United States, residing at Daytomin the county of Montgomery and have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Surface-Test Indicators, of specification. 1.

This invention relates to measuring instruments, and particularlyto surface test indicators, for measuring variations or undulations of a given surface andindicating these measurements or variations in amplified form. r

The object of the invention is tosimpliiy the structure, as Well as the means and mode of operation of such instruments whereby they, are not only cheapened in construction,

but will be more sensitive and eflicient in use, universal, in operation, automatic in action, accurate, and unlikely to getout of repair.

In the usual tool room or machine shop practice, it is necessary to take readings or measurements of different sides of a. given piece of work. With the usual type of surface test indicators, much diiliculty ex periencedin observing the indications of the instrument, thru the fact that as the instrument is turned about the work, some indications must be read in inverted position,

and when a bottom reading is to be had in many instances a mirror is necessary. The readzngfof the indications in inverted position, and by means of a mirror which gives a reversal of the image, leads to frequent .inistakes, and inaccuracies, and it has long,

been recognized that asurtace testindicator which could be read with equalfacility in all pos ;tions of ad ustment is a desirable adjunct to. a tool room or machine shop equipment. To meet these requirements and provide an instrument of universal character, capable of being one positions of adjustment, but in which the indicator scale will always be positioned to be readily observed by the operator, a

primaryobject of the present invention;

A further objectoi the invention, is to provide improved ampliiynig means for .modii ying the movement of the feelerby whch var ations will be accurately indicated without back-lash or undue vibrations.

Witli. the above primary and other incidental objects in View as will more "iully which the followingis ational view upon line ai4 operated in vari ieeler has a long bearingor widely Serial No. 367,840.

appear-in the specification, the invention cons sts of the features oi construction, the parts and combination thereof, and the mode or operation or their equivalents as hereinafter described and set forth inthe claims.

Referring to the drawings, Fig. l is anenlarged perspective View of the assembled indicator, forming the subject matter hereof. F Lg. 2 is a side elevation thereof. Fig; 31s a transverse sectional view uponline ii-23 of F i. Fig. 4 is a. diametrical secof Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a detail perspective VlGW of the sychronizmg ring carrying the pointers. F i 6 is a detail View of the notched edge of the housing-to receive the radial ears of the sychronizing ring. F ig. 7 is an end elevation of a modification of the indicator means shown in the preceding figure. Fig.8 is a further modification disclosing the conical head and indicator.

Like parts are indicated by similar char acters of reference throughout the several views.

The instrument forming the subject matter hereof is provided with a plurality of sets of graduation marks, and pointers or indicating members which operate in unison to indicate the movement of the feeder. Tl'ieseindicating faces are disposed in different radial positions. The relative movement of the pointers and graduation marks of each indicatingiace occurs in unison to simultaneously indicate upon all of such differently positioned indicating faces in unison with the movement of the feelers.

In constructing the device there isemployed, a cylindrical housing 1 from one face otwhich projects a rigid arm 2, which carrier the oscillatory 'leeleiyi. The rigid supporting arm is provideitl at its extreiir ity with a reversed ear 4.. forming" a bifurcat .n 5.3 within which the feeler. is pivotally mounted The pivot stud G oifthc a tigl'it driven hearing: withinthe feeler 3. and the amplifying arm here after mentioned, and has its loose journal bearing iu theentreniity of the arm :5 and the reverse ear 4%. 'llhcre is thus afforded 7 separated ournal COHHOCtlOH for thefteelcr which tends to materially reduce side play and wear. It

has heretofore been the most common practies to pivot the feeler upon a screw or stud staliouarily. fired in the mounting about which the feeler oscillates. In such cases the bearing is reduced to the thickness of the feeler itself, whereas in the present case the bearing is in the mounting and not in the teeler, and hence being of greater extent maintains better alinement or the part". The teeler 3 is bifurcated or provided with a saw kert 7 in which is tightly gripped the end of an amplifying arm 8, which extends within the housing 1 thru a radial slot 9 in the head of said housing. 'The pivotal stud of the tceler extends thru the end of the amplifying arm 8, pivotally connecting these members one with the other. The contraction of the teeler upon the amplifying arm ai'i'ords such frictional engagement as to cause the amplifying arm 8 to move in unison with the feeler 3. but upon application of sutlicicnt pressure the teeler may be oscillated in relation with the arm 8 to ditt'erent radial positions of adjustment. The Lt'eeler is thus readily adapted to dilterent planes of operation. It will be understood that because of the great dilierence in the lengths of the lee er and amplifying arm 8. that any movement oi the feeler is greatly multiplied upon the free end of the arm 8 within the housing 1. Lo rated within the housing 1 is an oscillatory indicator drum 10, mounted for oscillatory movement with a main shaft 11 journaled in the opposite ends of the housing 1. The drum 1O prefen ablyv comprises a facing 12 of celluloid, bakelite, or other suitable material, which will facilitate the reading of the graduation marks. However, it desired the facing may be of metal. This facing has been shown as enclosing two oppositely disposed spiders 13 having inturned flanges 1a and each having four radial spokes or arms 15.

For convenience of marmtacture,these spiders are stamped from sheet metal. and mounted with their flanges 1a turned in ward, or one toward the other. The spiders are securely fixed to the main shaft'll, and

rotate therewith. Other terms of drum may be ei'nployed, but that shown and described altords a simple and economical. method of manufacture. Access to the interior of the housing 1 is bad thru the removal, of one of the heads 1b thereof. This head 16 is peripherally rabbited as at ii in Fig. '1 for engagement within the pcriphe al walls oi; the housing 1. The remorable head is eecured in position l'iy studs or screws its. ex tending thru the removable head and intermediate the spokes or arms of the drum and engz aging'in the opposite integral head of the housing. These studs are so positioned as to permit a limited oscillatory movement of the drum, in either direction "from its normal or zero position. Connect ed to the shaft 11 at one side of the drum is a spiral or retracting spring 19 the outer cud oi which is connected to one of the stud. bolts 18. This spring tends to retract or rotate the drum in one direction until arrested by the engagement of the spider arms with the studs 18. The movement of the teeler 3 under the influence ot variation in the work tends to rotate the drum in the opposite direction against the tension of such spring. This movement is cll'cctcd thru a multiplying gear train. The inner end of the amplifying arm 8 is upturned as shown by dotted, lines in Fig. 2 and pro vided in such rip-turned portion with a scrics ot gear teeth. In practice two such teeth have been found to be suilicient. and such is the disclosure of the drawing. However. one or more teeth may be employed. The np-turncd rack teeth 21. of the amplitv ing arm 8 mesh with a gear pinion .22 car ried upon a transverse pinion shat; i l. journal-ed in the opposite heads ot the housing 1. This pinion shaft 2 3, like the i-crcw studs 18 extends between the arms or si iokcs ot' the drum spiders in such relation as to permit ample oscillation of the drum in either direction. l ixedly mounted upon the pinion shaft 23 adjacent to the pinion 2:! is a. gear sector 21-, intcrmmhin with a gear pinion 25. mounted upon the drum shal't ll and carrying with it in its rotation ti 0 indicating drum. As shown in the drawing. the housing 1 has been provided with tour diametrically oppositely disposed apertures 26 thru which the indicating drum may be viewed. The drum provided with tour sets of ,nrraduation marks .37 in divisii is substantially registering with the apertures ill. Associated with each set of gradualions 2T visible thru the apertures 26, is a pointer or indicator 28. This indicator may be merely a mark upon the housing 1 but is preferably a pointer hand, adjustably mounted as hereafter described. The construction as described is such that the slightest movement of the 'lcclcr 3 due to undulations or irregularities of the tested surface, is trausmittml thru the ampliiyiiulf arm 8 to the pinion 22. giving to such piuion a materially increased degree oi moromeut. The morcmcnt oi thc pinion 2 2 is again magnified or amplilicd by tho gear sector :24. whereby the drum is rotated lhru an increas-scd degree of oscillator more ment. but alwayspro imrlioualc lo the lesser dearer of movement of the i'celcr l The rotation oi the drum may be ohsciwcd lhru any or all of the vision apcrlurcs :21). and as there is a separate series of gradualions as 'sociated with each al'icrturc. the moasurcmcnts may be read in any ol thcsc divisions. Thus in passingthe instrument about a circular piece of work. whether the same bc a locating button in work, or the interior of a bore, the measurement may be readily read thru the uppermost; or lirst vision :ipc|'-- turc. llpon turning llic instrumcul thru a lfFo ill

y of the elongated notches 32.

. strument thru. a

the setting of the instrument in quarter rotation totakea sidesor lateral measurement,

then be uppermost.

second quarter rotat on to take a bottom reading, the indication will appear, of course simultaneously atall the vision apertures, but may be more easily read at the third aperture whichwill then beuppermost. The same condition will ex- 1st upon a further rotation of theinstrument, totake an=oppos1te side reading which will bringthe fourth vision apertureuppen most.

leading ot; the ll'lCllCllllIOll or measurement The instrument also llLClllttliJt-BS the SUUUllZEEDGOUE-Jfly' by two or .more persons;

This enables an inspector to observe the v'or'l: while the workman adjusts the device,

both persons being able to follow the deviations of the instrument at all times.

In order to synchronize or adjust the indicator or pointerto zero, without changing with the worlgthe pointers 28 are mounted upon a synchronizing ring 30, formed from sheet metalwith the pointers. 28 turned to to the plane of the position perpendicular ring and overlying the edge of the drum within the peripheral. walls of the housing.

The synchronizing ring 30 is formed with a plurality of radial ears3l, which engage Within marginal notches 32 the peripheral walls of the housing 1. The notches 32 are of somewhat greater length than the width of the ears 31 whereby the syncln'onizing ring 30 is permitted a limited rotary movement. This synchronizinp,- ring lies in close frictional contact with the removable head of the housing, and is retained by this frictional engagement with the head and with the side walls of the housingyin any position of adjustment within the range The ears 31 projectslightly beyond the periphery of he .headl. and are knurled or roughened on their edges whereby they are readily engaged for turning the ring to bring the pointer 28 into exact alinement with the zero mark of the graduations 27. a Any suitr ,ablejform of support may. beeinployedh In the dra wing tl'iere has been shown a handle shall ,3 pivotally connected with knuckle 34 carried by the removable head 16 of the housing 1. .Tliisphnuclacleor pivotal COI1 nection of the handle shaft enables the instrument to be turned to various angular positions in relation with the handle shaft which mounted in the tool llG ldP/l'.SILHSTHCD gage, height gage, or other suital'ile sup-.

port. i

It. is obviousthat in lieu. of QTppon the drum, the drum may carry a- .sinq'le ii'ulic ator mark or. winter and the graduations 27 may be located upon the housing; 1.. at the margin of the vision aperthe indication may be read thru the second vislon aperture WlllCllWlll ITPOILlLIMIHHg the ndicative surfaces is a most in the edge of between the con graduations ture 26. r This reversal of the indicator or.

1s so obvious pointer and the graduations as not tonecessitate illustration. In Fig. 7,

there is shown a modification in which the i graduations 27' are located upon the head or lateral face of the rotary drum and are VlS- ible thru apertures 35in the head. of the housing 1 instead of thru the periphery thereof. 'lhisconstruction enables a disc to beeniployed in lieu of the. drum, and the depth of the housing may be materially de creased.

ll hile the feature of multiple dials or indesirable one, it is obvious that the. device may be constructed 1 with but a single observation space or vision the types shown an;

aperture, in either of Fig. 1 or Fig. 7. TllGI'Gl'OlQ WllllG the multiplicity of simultaneous indication 111 d1ffer- ,ent positions is important, it is not neces sarily essential to the successful operation of the device. relation Fig. 8 shows a further modification in which the main housing and indicator drum are of truncated conical form thus present ing the graduations at an inclined position. The mechanism and operation isotherwise as described. a

From theabove description it will be apparent that there is thus provided a device of the character proportions, detail construction and arrangcment of parts without departing. from described possessing the particular features of advantage before enumerated as. desirable, but which obviously is susceptible of modificatixin. in its form;

the principle involved or sacrificing any of its advantages.

While inorder to comply with the statute 1 thelinvention has. been described in language more or less specific as to structural features, it is to be vention isnot limited to the specific-details shown, but that the meansand construction herein disclosed comprise but one of several .modes of putting the invention into effect,

and the invention is therefore claimed in any oi? its forms or modifications within the legitimate and validscope of the appended 1 claims. a

Having thus describedniy inventioin l claim i. In a surface test indicator of hewchan understood that the ina acter described, a casing having a plurality of vision apertures arranged in different radial positions, a movable indicator member within the casing and visible simultaneously thru the several apertures, a movable feeler member, movable in a single plane perpendicular to the plane of movement of the indicator, and an actuating lever between the feeler member and the indicator exerting uniform leverage in its various positions of adjustment whereby variations of the feeler member are simultaneously indicated uniformly at all of the vision apertures.

3. In a surface test indicator of the character described, a casing having therein a plurality of radially disposed vision apertures, an oscillatory drum mounted within the casing and visible thru the apertures, an oscillatory actuating arm for the drum movable in a single plane perpendicular to the plane of oscillation of the drum in unison with variations in the tested surface, the degree of variation of which is indicated by the movement of the drum,'substantially as specified. 4. In a surface test indicator of the character described, a supporting frame, a movable feeler member mounted thereon, an amplifying mechanism, a movable multiple indicating member, an oscillatory arm, carrying gear teeth and controlled by the feeler member, a gear member, with which the teeth of said arm intermesh, a multiplying gear member operated in unison with the first mentioned gear member, and transferring amplifying movement to the indicator member, said multiple indicating member being adapted to simultaneously indicate the degree of movement of the feeler member in a plurality of different radially disposed positions.

5. In a surface test indicator of the character described, a supporting frame, a movable feeler member, amplifying mechanism, two relatively movable members, differentially adjusted by said amplifying mechanism, one of said members having thereon, a plurality of groups of graduations, and aplurality of pointers, one for each group of graduations, adjustably carried by the other member, and interconnected for ad justment in unison with which the graduation marks coact to simultaneously indicate the movement of the feeler at a plurality of different points spaced one from another.

6. In an indicator of the character described, a housing having a plurality of observation o 3enings disposed in different radial positions, an oscillatory indicator within the housing having thereon groups of graduations, one group for each opening,a movable contact member, an amplifying connection between the contact member and the indicator whereby the indicator is oscillated through an amplified degree of movement by the movement of the contact member, and a series of normally stationary indicating pointers one for each opening interconnected one with the other for adjustment in unison independent of the indicator and contact.

7. In an indicator of the character described, ahousing having therein aplurality of observation openings an oscillatory indicator within the housing having thereon a plurality of groups of graduations, one for each opening, a normally stationary pointer coacting with the movable graduations upon the indicator, a movable contact member and an amplifying interconnection between the contact member and indicator.

8. In an indicator of the character de-- scribed, a movable contact member, an amplifying arm movable therewith, a series of rack teeth carried by said arm, and projecting perpendicular to the plane of movement of the amplifying arm, a. gear pinion engaged by Said teeth and an indicator oscillated by the actuation of said gear pinion, in proportion to the movement of the contact member.

9. In an imlicator of the character described, a cylindrical housing having in the periphery thereof a plurality of observation openings, a cylindrical indicator mounted for oscillatory movement within said housing and having on its periphery groups of graduations, one group for each observation space, through which the gradnations are visible, a movable contact member and an amplifying movement transmittin; connection between the contact; member and the indicatii'igcylii'ider, whereby the. cylinder will be oscillated in unison with the movement of the contact member but to greater degree.

10. In an indicator of the character described, a supporting structure, an oscillatory ii'nlicator and a movable contact feeler carried thereby, an amplifying lever movable in unison with the contact feeler. rack teeth carried by the lever and projecting perpendicular to the plane of oscillation thereof. a gear member engaged by the rack teeth and an operative ((Jlllltt'l'ltll] between the gear member and the oscillatory indicator. I

ll. In an iml cator ot the character dcscribetil, a supporting strintnrc. an oscillatory imlicator and a movable contact t'eclcr carried thereby, said indicator and contact member being movable in planes at right. angles to each other, an amplifying gear train actuating the oscillatory indicator. and an operative connection between the contact member and the initial, gear member of the gear train.

12. In an indicator of the character described. an oscillatory imlicator, a spring against the tension of which the indicator is movable, a pinion carried by the indicator, a gear segment, intermeshing with said gear pinion, a second gear pinion connected with the gear segment, an oscillatory arin having teeth engaging with the second mentioned pinion but movable in a plane pei pendicular to the plane of rotation of the pinion, and a contact feeler controllingsaid arm.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this 4th day of March, A. D. 1920.

THOMAS E. GROVE. Witnesses:

W. D. ANsPAoi-r, GEORGE C. Hnmn'o. 

